‘Food Court Wars’ seeks extras for local filming

By JAMI KUNZER –
jkunzer@shawmedia.com

Tyler Florence (AP photo)

HOW TO GET CAST

The Food Network is casting two-person teams with preexisting relationships (friends, families, couples, co-workers) to take part in “Food Court Wars.” The teams will compete against one another as they battle to win their own food court restaurant, rent-free for a year at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee.

How to apply: Email amy@theconlincompany.com.

• Include name and the name of your teammate (please submit in teams of two).

• Recent photos of you and your teammate.

• A short bio on you and your teammate.

• The type of eatery, with sample menu, that you would like to open and how it’s going to be locally inspired and original.

The Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” is coming to Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee and looking for local contestants to compete.

In its second season, the show pits teams of couples or two friends, family members or co-workers against one another as they battle for the chance to own their own food court restaurant rent-free for a year.

Casting will continue for at least another couple weeks, said Amy Lee, the show’s casting producer, and filming is expected to take place for five to seven days in mid- to late-November. It is not know yet when the show will air.

“Ideally, the person should live within an hour of the mall, but if they’re willing to relocate, we can have them as well,” Lee said. “We’re open to everyone. We’re casting everyone from trained chefs to people who have never worked in a restaurant a day in their lives but have always dreamed of owning their own.”

Executive produced by Gordon Ramsay and hosted by Tyler Florence, the show features a different U.S. city mall every week. Contestants are asked to come up with an original, locally inspired idea for a food court restaurant at the mall.

As part of the show, teams must test their concept, market their brand and run their outlet for a full day feeding hungry shoppers. The team whose restaurant makes the most profit wins their eatery space.

At Spring Hill Mall, the interior as well as the food court were remodeled in 2004, said Cathleen Tymoszenko, community development director for the village of West Dundee.

“It’s a very nice space. It has a lot of natural light and new furnishings, and we’re excited to be able to showcase that,” she said.

Representatives of the show asked the village to help promote the upcoming filming.

Information on how to apply as a team has been posted on the village’s website and related social media, and emails were sent to residents, Tymoszenko said. An information sheet also has been posted at the library, she said.

“That’s about all we know is that they’re on the hunt for contestants,” she said.

It’s not West Dundee’s first claim to fame, as parts of 2002’s “Road to Perdition” starring Tom Hanks were filmed downtown. Also, a neighborhood on Second Street in West Dundee was named the “Best Block in America” by “Good Morning America” in 2010.

The inclusion of the mall can only work in West Dundee’s favor, Tymoszenko said, both during and after filming, as well as when the show actually airs.

“That could be an attraction for fans of the show to check out and come and see the winner,” she said. “Once they come to the area, they’ll see everything it has to offer.”